Statement by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer Calling for Primary Day to be Rescheduled

 With the fall primary election scheduled to conflict with Rosh Hashanah, Comptroller Scott M. Stringer released the following statement:

“New Yorkers should never have to choose between voting and observing their faith. But that’s exactly what could happen this year – our primary election conflicts with Rosh Hashanah. As it stands, many Jewish voters could be unable to vote. It’s wrong, and it needs to change. At a time when voter engagement is exceptionally low, New York needs to do better by rescheduling the primary, so no New Yorker has to sacrifice fulfilling one’s civic duty because of adherence to one’s faith. I urge the legislature to pass the bill proposed by Assemblyman Carroll and Senator Kaminsky, which will allow all New Yorkers to participate in the primary election.”

Changing the date of a primary election, which is held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in September before every general election, requires an act of the legislature.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. - You're invited to Borough President Diaz's 2018 State of the Borough Address!

You're invited to attend Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.'s 2018 State of the Borough Address on Thursday, February 22, 2018, at The Bronx High School of Science. Doors open at 10:30 AM, program begins promptly at 11:30 AM.

If you haven't done so already, RSVP at bit.ly/sotbx18.

Click to  RSVP

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

851 Grand Concourse, Ste. 301, Bronx, NY 10451

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce and The Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York invite you to attend a Free Seminar: "New York's Liability Crisis"

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION JOINS CITI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSTITUTE

TO LAUNCH INITIATIVE AIMED AT STRENGTHENING THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

New York City is the first to be part of Empowered Cities, a multi-year national initiative to develop training, tools, curricula, technology, and research to advance the financial empowerment of people with disabilities

  The de Blasio Administration joined Citi Community Development and the National Disability Institute today to announce the launch of  Empowered Cities, a national initiative that encourages municipalities to expand financial empowerment and economic inclusion to people living with disabilities and their families. The announcement includes the launch of EmpoweredNYC, the first local investment under the initiative, which will focus on strengthening the financial health of New Yorkers with disabilities across the five boroughs. Empowered Cities was launched with $2 million in support from Citi Community Development, $1 million of which is being used to fund EmpoweredNYC.

"Cities neglect the most vulnerable in society when they take a one-size-fits-all approach to the allocation of services and resources,” said Mayor de Blasio. “I am proud that EmpoweredNYC will act as a nationwide model for how cities can better serve people with disabilities by offering tailored information that will level the financial playing field for them and their families." 

“When all New Yorkers can fully benefit from all of our City’s educational, cultural and economic opportunities, we all benefit.” said First Lady Chirlane McCray, Chair of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC. “With access to training, counseling and expanded resources New Yorkers with disabilities and their families will have more of the tools they need to lead successful, independent lives.”

“People with disabilities and their families often have to make critical and complex financial decisions almost daily, navigating insurance, health services, benefits, education and employment decisions, which makes financial planning and security challenging,” said Bob Annibale, Global Director, Citi Community Development and Inclusive Finance. “The national Empowered Cities initiative, together with the local EmpoweredNYC partnership, represents an important and collaborative first step toward supporting municipalities, financial counselors and nonprofit service providers with specialized training and resources to ensure that they are better positioned to serve the needs of all residents in our communities.”

More than 50 million people live with a disability in the U.S., and 25 percent of households include a child or an adult with a disability. Nearly one million people in New York City live with a disability, a group comprising 12 percent of the city’s population. New Yorkers with disabilities are also twice as likely to be living in poverty as those without disabilities.

Co-developed and supported by Citi Community Development, EmpoweredNYC is a collaboration between the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, the Department of Consumer Affairs Office of Financial Empowerment, the National Disability Institute, The Poses Family Foundation, and the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. The program will test, adopt, and promote new strategies to financially empower people with disabilities throughout New York City.  The Department of Consumer Affairs will oversee the management of EmpoweredNYC, as well as the design and implementation of new trainings for financial counselors in order to reach more individuals with disabilities and their families.

“National Disability Institute is enthusiastic about today’s commitment by Citi Community Development and is honored to be a key partner to advance a better economic future for people with disabilities nationwide,” said Michael Morris, Executive Director, National Disability Institute. “With Citi’s and  NYC’s leadership , we will begin by testing new strategies in New York City that can improve financial capability for people with disabilities and enable and empower their future financial decision making. The New York City efforts will help inform a national initiative that enlists municipal and state government, community nonprofit organizations, financial institutions and other key stakeholders that can design programs, products and services that are scalable and sustainable.”

EmpoweredNYC will employ a three-tier approach to advance financial capability and counseling for people with disabilities and their families:

·         Tier 1: Broad engagement and education. Nonprofit service providers, caseworkers, and others will gather information and develop training to better understand and address individual financial situations, deliver a consistent message about financial capability and benefits (including the paths to and rewards of work), make appropriate referrals to one-on-one financial counseling, and strengthen service providers' competence in serving people with disabilities.

·         Tier 2: Revolutionized one-on-one financial counseling with new expertise, outreach, and tools. Stakeholders will pilot a new financial counseling model comprised of training, tools, and strategies customized to provide meaningful one-on-one guidance to people with disabilities.

·         Tier 3: Specialized support services for people transitioning to work. This tier will support people with disabilities seeking to transition to employment by providing specialized financial and benefits guidance.

EmpoweredNYC will create a learning community for newly trained counselors and service providers and launch a citywide marketing campaign to promote the new services. To guide this multi-faceted program, an advisory board will be assembled composed of senior leaders from City agencies, nonprofits, philanthropies, and the private sector.

Through the Empowered Cities program, NDI will hold national convenings with community stakeholders; conduct trainings for service providers and financial counselors, nonprofits, and municipal staff; produce a catalog of new publications and training curricula; and deliver national program management. The National Disability Institute will use the EmpoweredNYC model to inform, document, and build field knowledge about how to deploy citywide financial inclusion models to meet specific needs of residents with disabilities that can be implanted in cities across the country. 

"We know that financial inclusion is critically important to New Yorkers with disabilities, many of whom face significant financial insecurity. This public-private partnership will propel our work forward to develop new ways of achieving broader inclusion of all of our citizens by leveling the economic playing field," said Gabrielle Fialkoff, Senior Advisor to the Mayor and Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships. "New York City has always been at the cutting edge of new models for equity. With this new initiative, undergirded by the generous support of our long-time collaborators at Citi Community Development, we are pleased to be at the forefront of such important work."  

About the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities

The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), in operation since 1972, works to ensure that New Yorkers with disabilities can lead happy, healthy and productive lives and works hand-in-hand with other City offices and over 50 agencies to ensure that the voice of the disabled community is represented and that City programs and policies address the needs of the nearly one million New Yorkers with disabilities and the 6.8 million people with disabilities visiting New York City every year. In addition, the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities works with organizations on specific issues affecting people with disabilities, and aims to bring about dialogue that leads to meaningful outcomes for those living with disabilities. MOPD’s strives to make NYC the most accessible city in the world. For more information about MOPD, call 311, visit nyc.gov/mopd, or find it on social media, Twitter or Facebook. 

About the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs

The NYC Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCA licenses more than 81,000 businesses in more than 50 industries and enforces key consumer protection, licensing, and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources and, by helping to resolve complaints, DCA protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. Through its community outreach and the work of its offices of Financial Empowerment and Labor Policy & Standards, DCA empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to be educated consumers and to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCA also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCA and its work, call 311 or visit DCA at nyc.gov/dca or on its social media sites, Twitter, Facebook,Instagram and YouTube.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce and HeartVein NYC invite you to HeartVein's Grand Opening Ribbon-Cutting

Jumaane For New York - Williams Launches State-Wide Listening Tour

Williams Launches State-Wide Listening Tour In Rochester, Buffalo & Syracuse

Meets with New Yorkers of All Backgrounds As He Continues Exploring Run For Lieutenant Governor

   

Two weeks ago, New York City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams announced his plans to form an exploratory committee for the purpose of running for the office of Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York.

This past weekend, Williams visited three cities in Central and Western New York - Rocheseter, Buffalo and Syracuse - as part of a planned listening tour around . He has said that his visits to diverse areas of the state are part of his process in speaking with New Yorkers from all backgrounds, discussing the kind of issues that are impacting their lives, how helpful and responsive is our state government to their needs, while gauging the appetite for new progressive leadership in Albany:

Rochester.....8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26

Williams kicked off the listening tour by meeting with dozens in the Rochester community at Mt. Hope Family Diner Friday morning for breakfast He discussed his record as a Council Member, and how he believes that Rochester and many other cities across the state face similar challenges such as affordable housing, gun violence and economic development. Listening  for over two  hours to the concerns of a diverse group of residents assembled from across Monroe County, Williams got the opportunity to hear first-hand their concerns regarding the future of our state. Williams was introduced at the event by Brighton, NY.

University of Rochester.....11 a.m.

Council Member Williams also visited the Frederick Douglass Institute at the University of Rochester (above), and discussed the diverse array of programs and offerings that the Institute presents to the campus community and surrounding area. He spoke briefly at an event hosted by the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Initiative (below) about the importance of recognizing Douglass as a radical activist of his time. Next month will mark the 200th anniversary of the noted African American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, author and statesman.

Mt. Hope Cemetery.....1:30 p.m.

Before leaving Rochester, Council Member Williams stopped by the Mt. Hope Cemetery where paid his respects at the gravesites of both Frederick Douglassand Susan B. Anthony, calling them "two icons for civil rights" who "took up their cause with energy, passion, and conviction, and are truly an inspiration to all those who continue their work." Additionally, Williams stopped by for a meeting with Rochester residents at the Irondequoit Public Library.

Buffalo.....5 p.m.

Council Member Williams continued on to the city of Buffalo for an event at the Allen Street Hardware Cafe, where he spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of over 50 Buffalo progressives on issues of housing, climate change, gun violence, and what it means to be a core progressive. Council Member Brian Nowak of Cheektowaga introduced Council Member Williams, who continued to speak with the crowd, hearing their concerns and answering questions for two and a half hours. At the conclusion, several attendees made donations to his exploratory camapign.

Syracuse.....8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27

Saturday morning, Council Member Williams paid a visit to the Syracuse Regional Market to speak to artisans and farmers from the area before holding a meet and greet with Syracuse Common Council President Helen Hudson (above photo - bottom left), Council Member & President Pro-tem Khalid Bey,  Council Member Latoya Allen (District 4) and several community advocacy groups.

After an insightful dialogue with the spirited crowd, Council Member Williams met with former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner (above photos) to discuss the issues that still face the city and how best to take them on. Miner has long been considered a potential primary challenger to Governor Andrew Cuomo. Williams returned to Brooklyn on Saturday evening after his three-city swing. 

"It was incredible to feel the progressive energy across the state, at stop after stop," Williams said of his trip. "People are energized by the prospect of finding progressive solutions to the problems that we all face together, upstate and downstate alike. Everyone wants affordable, sustainable housing, better jobs, safer communities, and quality education. It was a privilege to discuss how we can all achieve these goals together."

In his eight years on the New York City Council, Council Member Williams has been a fierce advocate for affordable housing and  tenant protections. Referring to himself as an "activist elected official," he has passed an exceptionally large amount of legislation, including landmark legislation in police reform and worker safety, and helped to create anti-gun violence programs which have led New York City to its lowest crime rates in decades. Williams was recently re-elected to a third term representing the 45th District in the City Council, earning 96% percent of the vote.

He has long been a critic of Governor Cuomo and other officials who he says "put on a progressive cloak" when it is politically expedient and "test the political winds." In announcing his exploratory committee on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Williams argued that the Capitol needs people who will help to "create those political winds." He is expected to decide whether to officially enter the race for Lieutenant Governor in the coming weeks.

For more information about Jumaane's vision and the previous work he has done during three terms in the NYC Council, log on at www.jumaanewilliams.com

If you would like to invite Jumaane to your neighborhood to meet and discuss New York's future, send an email to jumaanefornewyork@gmail.com

Latest Hebrew Home Proposal at CB 8 Land Use Committee Meeting Thursday Jan. 25th

  As you can see from the photo above the room was packed at Smith Hall for the Community Board 8 Land Use meeting on one subject the latest proposal by the Hebrew Home to build on its South Campus a Continuing Care Retirement Community. CB 8 Land Use Chair Charles Moerdler laid down the ground rules that no vote by the community board was going to take place, and that this was only an informational presentation by the Hebrew Home on its plans for the South Campus purchased in 2013. After the presentation CB 8 board members would be allowed to ask questions, and then time permitting members of the public would be able to.

  Mr. Dan Reingold CEO of the Hebrew Home/Riverwalk took the podium and started by saying the property to the south of the Hebrew Home campus was purchased in 2013 with an aim to give senior a three phased options as a Continuing Care Retirement Community. 

Phase One would be a place for seniors to retire while they were still in good health and able to do everyday things on their own normally.  

Phase Two would be an assisted living part of the campus where resident seniors who could no longer do everyday things on their own, but needed assistance to function normally. 

Phase Three would be a full skilled nursing part (as is presently the Hebrew Home) when resident seniors could no longer function on their own, and would get the fully assisted skilled nursing help they needed. The question is not the three options of senior living, but how they are to be placed and where on the recently purchased property zoned R1 for one family homes, and not apartment style building living. 

  When Mayor Bill de Blasio was first elected in 2013 (coincidentally), the mayor saw a need for more affordable housing, and affordable senior housing and care facilities. In March 2015 the organization Liveon NY came out with a proposal for 2,000 new senior housing units on current HUD 202 properties unused housing areas such as parking lots. Thirty-nine sites in the five boroughs were highlighted with three sites in the Bronx. One site was the Schervier Home where detailed photos of where property line were, and where to place another building on the parking lot and adjacent areas. These proposed new buildings however had zoning covenants not allowing for additional buildings. 

 In the March 2016 ZQA/MIH passed by the City Council and signed by the mayor there is mention of Long Term Care Facilities. LTCf's are 'As of Right' in all areas zoned R3-2 or above, and not in R1 or R2 zoned areas. They are permitted in R1 and R2 zones with the City Planning Commission approval of a special permit called ZR 74-901. This also does not subject the building(s) to minimum unit size or density factor calculations. Another way for a LTCF is to get a BSA Special Permit ZR 73-623 for non profit institutes with sleeping accommodations. However these special permits are for 'Affordable Housing' for seniors which many say that the Hebrew Home project is anything but Affordable Housing. The entrance fee as described by Mr. Reingold would begin at four-hundred thousand dollars, and go as high as one million dollars according to the size and area of the unit. The monthly maintenance fee would be approximately four to five thousand dollars, to which there were shouts from the audience that it was no where near affordable. 

  In the power point presentation there were three photos taken from drones at levels of the third floor, tenth floor, and twentieth floors by Skyview Mr. Reingold said. He added that worries of Skyview residents that their views would be blocked by the new CCRC are not founded. When it came to the public speakers three Skyview residents rebutted Mr. Reingold's comment that their view would not be obstructed, with one offering him to come to their apartment in Skyview to see, which he turned down. Mr. Reingold then spoke about the height of the over twenty story buildings which make up the Skyview complex. 

  The meeting came to a close with Chair Moerdler saying there would be a time frame of sixty days after the plans are submitted to the city for review for the community board to give a response. That there would be two meeting of the committee before a vote would be taken, and that the current chair of the board wrote the rules (while working at the CPC) for the Special Nature Area in which the Hebrew Home is located. He then adjourned the meeting. 

  The zoning regulations and special permit information comes from the seventy-four page 'CIty Planning Commission report 'Housing New York, Zoning for Quality and Affordability Overview'.

5 Members Of Washington Heights Drug Crew Charged With Distribution Of Cocaine, Heroin, And Fentanyl

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James J. Hunt, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), James P. O’Neill, Police Commissioner of the City of New York (“NYPD”), and George P. Beach II, the Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging AMIN HERNANDEZ, a/k/a “Face,” MIGUEL GIL, JORALBI LORA, a/k/a “K,” ISMAEL GARCIA, a/k/a “Swiss,” and FRANCISCO TIBULCIOMERINO, a/k/a “Cousin,” with conspiring to distribute crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl in Washington Heights.  HERNANDEZ, LORA, and TIBULCIOMERINO were arrested last night, and will be presented today before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew J. Peck.  GIL and GARCIA are already in state custody and will be transferred to federal custody shortly.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, this drug crew was responsible for distributing highly addictive drugs, including fentanyl, an extremely lethal drug 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.  These arrests are part of our continued commitment to stem the opioid epidemic that is plaguing our nation and our City.  We thank our partners in the NYPD and DEA for their outstanding work in this investigation.”

DEA Special Agent-In-Charge James J. Hunt said: “As drug overdose rates rise throughout the country, this drug crew allegedly pushed a toxic medley of drugs onto our streets.  We will continue to investigate traffickers at all levels in an effort to stop the number of overdoses and drug-related fatalities.”

Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “This group was allegedly involved in the business of bringing potentially deadly drugs to the streets of Washington Heights.  But now they have learned that our Drug Enforcement Task Force is in the business of bringing them to the halls of justice.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today[1]

 AMIN HERNANDEZ, a/k/a “Face,” MIGUEL GIL, JORALBI LORA, a/k/a “K,” ISMAEL GARCIA, a/k/a “Swiss,” and FRANCISCO TIBULCIOMERINO, a/k/a “Cousin,” conspired to distribute 280 grams and more of cocaine base, or “crack,” 500 grams and more of powder cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl.  Each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, and a maximum sentence of life in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants will be determined by the judge. 

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of the DEA, the NYPD, and the State Police.  This case was done by NYPD and DEA’s REDRUM group in the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force.  The Task Force comprises agents and officers of the DEA, New York City Police Department, and New York State Police. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Maimin is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.    

 [1] As the introductory phase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth below, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.